August 13, 2003 Are there long term effects from alergies? I'm alergic to cats and we've had a cat for 20 years. My doctor said there could be long term effects; but, he hasn't justified his remark. -- Bill, Illinois
Allergies can lead to structural damage to the airways. The moisture and inflammation produced by allergies is a leading cause of chronic sinus infections. The sinus membranes become thickened and often must be surgically repaired.
Inflammation in the lungs can be even more damaging. Allergies are often associated with asthma. Asthma, over time, can cause "remodeling" of lung tissue, in which healthy tissue is replaced with scar tissue.
I shared more about the mechanisms behind these damaging processes in the June issue of National Allergy Supply newsletter, which I guest-edited.